PHOTOS: Nova Kebeli leads the charge as Portola tops Woodbridge 35-9 in opener

Nova Kebeli of Portola evades Zachary Felix of Woodbridge in Friday’s season opener. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Portola running back Nova Kebeli rushed for 258 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a convincing 35-9 nonleague victory over Woodbridge Friday night in the season opener for both teams at Portola High before a near capacity crowd. 

Both squads got off to a quick start but the Bulldogs surged ahead following a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter and never looked back.

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Kebeli set two school records, one for rushing for 258 yards in a game and one for the longest run from scrimmage, his third-quarter 97-yard TD run.

“My offensive linemen made it possible for me, they opened big holes and I couldn’t do it without them,” said Kebeli. “I’m speechless about setting school records for most rushing yards in a game and for the longest run ever in a game, I’m simply speechless.”

Portola coach Peter Abe said he will continue to use Kebeli as his workhorse. Kebeli also made his debut at linebacker for the Bulldogs.

“We’ve have a bunch of new guys and until they get more comfortable, we’re going to continue to give it to number 22 (Nova),” said Abe. “He’s as good as we said he was. He helped our offense rally tonight.”

Portola wide receiver Dean Berger took the opening kickoff and raced 95 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead. The Warriors countered immediately by marching 56 yards in six plays for a score, capped off by a 34-yard TD pass from QB Danny Jazdzyk to Daniel Goodrich tying the score at 7-7. 

Portola then turned the tide of the game by scoring two touchdowns in 17 seconds of the second quarter to take a 21-7 lead.

Kebeli scored on a 3-yard touchdown run at the 8:40 mark of the quarter to lift the Bulldogs to a 14-7 lead. On Woodbridge’s first play on the ensuing possession, senior linebacker Adam Aly scooped up a Warriors fumble and rambled 31 yards for a TD, increasing Portola’s lead to 21-7.

Kebeli broke off a 97-yard TD run late in the third quarter and QB Sonny Tierney added a fourth quarter TD run. 

“Abe has a well-oiled machine,” said first-year Woodbridge coach Aaron Craver. “We have some bugs to work out and we need to get a little tougher, but sometimes you need a little ‘humble pie’ first. We have a good team and we’ll work it out.”

This is the first full year of the Pacific Coast Conference, which used to be the PCL for football. Portola, the two-time defending league champions, will compete in the Pacific Hills League and Woodbridge in the Pacific Valley League.

Masks were not required to be worn by spectators at Friday’s game, however about a third of the fans in attendance donned masks.

To see pre-game pictures of this game and others, please click here.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone